Thursday 13 August 2015 10:33, UK
Manchester United club doctor Steve McNally has been praised by manager Louis van Gaal for spotting a blood clot in Phil Jones' calf that will sideline the England defender for three weeks.
Jones missed the opening-day 1-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday after Dr McNally’s initial diagnosis was confirmed by a specialist last Friday.
The former Blackburn defender is now set to miss United’s next three Premier League games and looks unlikely to feature in the two-legged Champions League play-off against Belgian side Club Brugge.
"It was very peculiar because he had tightness in his calf the whole week and he kept training, but we have a very good doctor I think because this doctor discovered a minor thrombosis," Van Gaal said.
"We don't take the risk so we went to a specialist at the hospital for a second opinion.
"The specialist said we have a new medical treatment and we have to keep him out for three weeks and watch him."
Daley Blind partnered Chris Smalling at the heart of United’s defence in Jones’ absence and Van Gaal insisted he will not be forced into the transfer market as a result of the injury.
"No we have three centre-backs," he said.
"We have (Paddy) McNair, Jones and Smalling, but if he is much better than them then it is possible. We go for the best players and it has to be possible."
